Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-17

ing anything DuI m1SeraDle, anu, as
the strangeness wore off, l was struck
with sudden idea-what was my sail
Or-laddie's Christian name? [ had
never heard it. / asked auntie.
L have promised that he shall tell
you everything himSelf-so your curl
oSlty will have to wait
And auntle was firm. only teasing
~ youchsafng the information that I
had heard it often enough.
The next morning / went into my
studio to get on with my picture; but
first | studied the painted face on the
canvas as if | had not had the original
before me daily for nearly six weeks;
one can however look at the same
Ray, my model, and Mr.. Ray, my lover,
seemed two different people.
L had finished my picture by the end
OF the week, and, after carefully pack
ing it, [ sent it to Signor Tosti; that
done, l felt my occupation was gone. I
could not go on with any of my other
paintings; [ did not feel in the humor
for work; and, after idly moping about
all one morning pretending to sketch, I
made up my mind to go for good long
walk and try to pick up little energy.
told auntie of my intention, and, di-
rectly after our primitive one-o'clock
dinner, sailed forth.
Il took my way over the cliffs, and
recalled the morning on which [ had
first seen Mr.. Ray, when [ had taken
him for a fisherman, and he had helped
to deceive me by changing his voice
and calling me miss I knew by this
time that he was not a fisherman, COM
mon sailor, or anything else of their
degree: but [ was no wiser as to his
actual position. / knew that he was a
gentleman. and that he was we'll
Known to Signor TOsti; and I had an
idea also that he was not blessed with
much worldly wealth. This last piece
of knowledge / could not account for.
I could not remember any one telling
me in SO many words that he was poor;
but [ think it must have been from
chance observations, made either by
himself or others, that [ had been led
to that conclusion. He told me once,
when / asked, that he was Mr.. Hays's
friend, and that Mr.. Hays very seldom
left the yacht, only himself and some
of the crew ever coming ashore.
"As [ wandered on, recalling first one
thing and then another, found myself
on the identical spot on which / had
first met my 'Fisher-Lad.' There was
the overturned boat against which he
had leaned, and, from associations of
ideas, [ suppose, [ also leaned against
it, and continued my musing, while I
looked out over the heaving mass of
water before me.
"How long [ stood there I do not
know. I had heard no sound save the
moaning of the waves; but suddenly
my view was darkened, and | found
myself EMBODIED by two strong arms,
whilst a deep voice whispered
II already repent; but | could not
resist the temptati MP
This time [ did not struggle to get
away. Having made up my nina TO
bear all the discOmfOrtS attaching to
the possession Of a lover, | bore this
onslaught with great patience; and,
when Mr.. Ray raised my head and
asked me, with a blending fun and ear
nestness, You don't mind, darling,
now?' / managed to whisper NO loud
enough to be heard, and Immediately
suffered for it.
81 don't want to be killed just yetl'
I demonstrated at last, after another
embrace.
"'IIl give it you in smaller doses
thenl' agreed my 'Fisher-Lad.'
How did you find nae, Mr.. Ray?' [ |
asked, trying to give the conversation
a reasonable turn.
"'Instinctl Bat, Olive I'm not going
to be called Mr.. Ray" any longer
az don't know your Christian name
yet, [ said.
4'Why, Olive, you have never called
me by any Other!'
"'What do you mean?' asked, per-
picked. 'Auntie puzzled me by saying
that [ had heard it again and again,
but l don't remember having heard it
mentioned once
Il won't puzzle you any longer then.
My name in full is Raleigh Hayes
Il opened my eyes to the fullest ex-
tent.
"'And that is your yaeht?' I gasped
at last
eyes, little woman
"'Butyou told me Mr.. Raleigh Hayes
hardly ever left the yacht?'
but I said Mr.. Ray did-there you
see the result of ones having an elder
brother. While Albert was alive, I
was "Mr. Ray" and, though he has
been dead these six years, the old
name clings to me. I can't deny I gave
that name to mislead you, because a
little bird whispered to me that the
other was Objectionable in the ears of
a certain young lady as the name of an
Objectionable sutton.
"'HOw did you know that?' I asked.
F" Oh, a matchmaking lady let the
cat out of the bag in my presence
once!'
"'Grandma?' I queried.
Yes, grandma. What a terrible
old lady she ISL
Il agreed with him, and then re-
turned to my questions.
"sYOu re not a poor man then?'
Il never was. Who told you. that?'
81 don't know that any one did, I
confessed; but [ got that idea some
how. So you are Mr.. Raleigh Hayes,
and, notwithstanding the choice before
you, as the best parti of the season, you
are going to marry nobody!'
"a nobody, indeed! Do you not
know that your picture has been ac-
cepted?'
wonder you thought it would be joke
for your friends to meet you there as
simple fsher-lad!'
'By-the-way, speaking of your pict-
ure reminds me that [ had letter,
just before I left, about your model
"'What about him?'
"'I was to see that you were not
sWindled or taken in in any way by
him-that was all
".WhO told Won TO do tlat?'